Enclosure mounted depressible push button means



Dec. 20, 1966 R. s. DAvls 3,293,380

ENCLOSURE MOUNTED DEPRESSIBLE PUSH BUTTON MEANS Filed Nov. 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l R. S. DAVIS Dec. zo, 1966 ENCLOSURE MOUNTED DEPRESSIBLE PUSH BUTTON MEANS Filed NOV. 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Oce 3,293,380 ENCLOSURE MOUNTED DEPRESSIBLE PUSH BUTTON MEANS Russell S. Davis, Detroit, Mich., assigner to I-T-E Circuit Breaker Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 412,972 7 Claims. (Cl. 200-5) This invention relates to enclosures for electrical devices in general and more particularly relates to novel means for arranging control buttons mounted to the enclosure cover in a logical sequence notwithstanding the fact that the controls of the devices mounted within the enclosure are not arranged in a logical sequence.

Many electrical control centers include motor starters mounted in an enclosure with the enclosure having one or .more openable covers carrying push button controls for operating the motor starters. The starters are provided with their individual controls which are operated by the push buttons mounted to the enclosure cover. Because of practical considerations in mounting the motor starters within the enclosure, it often happens that the starter controls in starters positioned next to one another are arranged in an illogical sequence.

More particularly, it is often advantageous to mount two starters with the line sides thereof facing one another. In such case the Start control of one starter is next to the Stop control of the other starter and vice versa. From the View point of operating starters this is a highly undesirabler arrangement in that a confusing picture is presented to the operator.

This invention provides novel means whereby the push button controls on the enclosure cover are arranged in a logical sequence. That is, with the starters having their line ends facing one another the start-stop controls of one starter are arranged in a line parallel to the line in which the stop-start controls of the other starter are disposed. However, the push buttons mounted to the cover are arranged in a single line perpendicular to the parallel lines on which the motor starter controls are disposed. Further, the cover mounted push buttons appear in a StartStop-Start-Stop logical sequence.

This is accomplished by providing the Start cover mounted push button for one starter and the Stop cover mounted push button for the other starter substantially Iin alignment with the corresponding controls of their respective starters. Further, the Stop cover mounted push button of the rst starter and the Start cover mounted push button for the second starter are each provided with an offset arm, the free end of which extends in front of the corresponding controls of the respective starters.

Accordingly, a primary object of the instant invention is to provide a novel means for arranging the enclosure mounted push buttons of a control center in a logical sequence even though the most convenient electro-mechanical arrangement of the electrical devices within the enclosure presents an illogical control arrangement.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive means for arranging cover mounted push buttons in a convenient sequence differing from the posi- These as well as further objects of this invention shall become readily apparent after reading the following description of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary front elevation of an enclosure with the cover removed revealing a pair of motor starters mounted with their line sides facing one another and showing the manner in which the enclosure cover mounted push buttons cooperate with the motor starter controls.

FIGURE 2 is an elevation view of the elements of FIGURE l looking in the direction of arrows 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an exposed perspective showing the elements mounted to the right hand cover of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal cross-section of one of the push button assemblies.

Now referring to the gures and more particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2. Enclosure 10 is generally of rectangular cross-section and at the front thereof is provided with a plurality of operable covers, only two of which 11, 12 are illustrated. Cover 11 is hinged at 13 to the forward end of the left wall of enclosure 10 while cover l2 is hinged at 14 to the forward end of the right wall of enclosure 10. Mounted to the back wall 15 of enclosure 10 are two electrical devices, in this case motor starters 16A, 16B each of a type fully described in the copending Cataldo et al. application Serial No. 189,915 led April 24, 1962, entitled Electrical Device and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention. Since line and load wiring to starters 16A, 16B forms no part of this invention, and is intended to be made in a conventional manner, no description or illustration thereof is included in this application.

Starters 16A, 16B are mounted so that their respective holding interlocks 17A, 17B face one another and are equally spaced from the longitudinal axis L of enclosure itt. Each of the holding interlocks 17A, 17B is provided with a Start and a Stop push button control which is depressible towards the rear wall of enclosure iti. As seen best in FIGURE l Start control 18A is positioned above Stop control 19A in a line parallel to the longitudinal axis L of enclosure l0 while Stop control 19B is positioned above Start control 18B also in a line parallel to the longitudinal axis L. Thus, it is seen that the Start control 18A of motor starter 16A is positioned next to Stop control 19B of starter ldB.

It has been found that if the push buttons on covers Il, I2 are arranged in alignment with the controls of the starters 16A, 16B, a good deal of confusion results. In order to avoid confusion in this area it is desirable to have the cover mounted push buttons arranged in a logical sequence. More particularly, the Start button should be to the left of the Stop button for the respective starters.

Cover 11 is provide-d with two depressible push button assemblies 21A, 211B `and cover 12 is provided with similar push button assemblies 22A, 22B. As seen in FIGURE l the plush button assemblies are arranged in a line extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L and iin la sequence 21A, 21B, 22A, 22B. As will be hereinafter shown, this is la logical sequence in that assembly 21A operates the Start control 18A of motor starter 16A while assembly 21B operates the Stop control 19A of starter 16A. Similarly, assembly 22A `operates Sta-rt control 18B of starter 16B and assembly 22B openates Stop tcontnol 19B of motor starter 16B. Since the cover mounted push button assemblies are of identical construction, only `the construction of push 4button assembly 22B will -be described in detail Iby referring more particularly to FIGURE 4. Assembly 22B Ais provided with molded housing 27b having a hollow cylindrical forward section ZSb and a reduced diameter rearwardly extending nipple 29]; whose external surf-ace is threaded. Cylindrical plunger 31b is mounted within housing 2717 'with the lower en-d of the former extending through guide aperture 32b at the bottom of nipple 29h. Coiled compression spring 33b, disposed within housing 27b, bears against the rear of housing portion 28h and the enlarged head 34b at the forward end of plunger 3117 thereby urging plunger 81h in la forward direction. The forward movement of plunger 31b is limited by the engagement of retainer ring 35h with the rear surface of nipple 29h with retainer 3519 being disposed within angular groove 36h near the rear end of plunger 3111.

Screw 37b, received by a threaded aperture in the rear surface of nipple 29b, secures retainer washer 38]: in place for a reason which will hereinafter become apparent, Longitudinally extending depression 3911, in the outer surface of plunger 31a, receives a longitudinally extending keying protrusi-on extending inwardly from the boundary surface of aperture 32h to prevent angular movement of plunger 31h with respect to housing 27h retains push ceived by the external threads of nipple 29h retains push button assembly 22B mounted to enclosure cover 12.

The tip portion 4111 at the rear end of plunger 31h is irregularly shaped to perform a keying function. More particularly, portion 41b is generally square and cooperates with a complementary aperture in a number secured to push butt-on assembly 22B thereby preventing relative angular movement of this member with respect to push button assembly 22B, for a reason which will hereinafter ybecome 'obvious As seen in FIGURE 3, nipple 29b is provided with a longitudinally extend-ing radial notch 41312 in the outer surface thereof. When push button assembly 22b is mounted to cover 12 nipple 29h extends through cover aperture 12b with locating tab 12b' extending into notch 43b thereby fixing the angular position of `body 27b relative to cover 12. Shoulder 45h rests against the outer surface of cover 12 while nut 40h -is drawn tightly against the inner surface of cover 12.

Square tip 41b of plunger 31b extends int-o square depression f51b at the top Io-r forward surface of extending member 50h.. Screw 37b extends through an axial bore member Sflb to secure `the latter to the rear or lower end of plunger 31h. While plunger 3-1b is in substantial alignment with stop control 19B of starter 16B the lower end of member 50b is provided with .a short radial extension 1S2b so that a more extensive area of control 19B is engaged when plunger 31h is depressed.

The Irear end of plunger 31a of button assembly 22A carries an offset arm 60a rather than Ian extending member 50h. `Offset arm 60a is provided with a square aperturel 61a which receives the square lower end 41a of plunger 31a. Screw 37a extends through washer 38a and aperture 61a into threaded engagement with plunger 31a to fixedly mount offset arm y60u to plunger 31a. T-he other end of offset farm `60a is provided with rearward extension 62a secured thereto .by screw 63a. As seen in FIG- URES l and 2, rearward extension 62a is positioned in general alignment with control 13B so as to operate the latter when plunger 3t1a is depressed.

As best seen in FIGURE 1, the extending member :secured to push button assembly 21A appears 'as the mir- :ror image `of extending member Sb and the offset arm 'secured to push button assembly 21B in the mirror image yof offset arm 60a.

Thus, it is seen that this invention provides a novel simplified means whereby push lbuttons arranged in a Illogical sequence on the outside of an enclosure are able to operate the controls for electrical devices mounted in the enclosure in an awkward arrangement.

Although there has been described a preferred embodiment of this novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to tbe limited, not by the specific disclosure herein, ybut only by the appending claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as fol-lows:

1. ln a device of the class described, an enclosure having a cover operable :between open and closed positions, a first and a second electrical device each disposed within said enclosure and having `at one end thereof a first anda second movable control element, said control elements being spaced from said cover in its said closed position, said -one ends facing tone another with said control elements of said first device positioned in a first line spaced from and extending generally in the same direction as a second line passing between said control elements of said second device, an individual depressible pushbutton means individual to each of said control elements, each of said push button means being mov-able to operate its respective control elements, said pus'hbutton means mounted to said cover means and positioned in a third line transverse to said first and second lines, said first, and second and said .third lines extending generally parallel to said cover in its closed position.

2. In a device `of the class described an enclosure, a first and a second electrical ldevice each disposed within said enclosure and having at one end thereof a first and a second control element, said one ends facing one another with said control elements yof said first device positioned in a first line spaced from and extending generally in the same direction as la second line passing between said control elements of said second device, said enclosure including operable cover means, an individu-al depressible push button means individual to each o-f said control elements, each of said .push button means when depressed operating its respective control element, said push button means mounted to said cover means 'and positioned in a third line transverse to said first and second lines in which a fourth line generaly :parallel to said third line extends between said first control element of said first device and said second control element of said second device, said pushbutton means individual to said second control element of said first device being positioned between said pushbutton means individual to said first control elements.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which a fifth line generally parallel to said third line extends between said second control element of said first device and said first control element of said second device, said pushbutton means individual to said first control element of said second device 'being positioned between said pushbutton means individual to said second control elements.

4. A device las set forth in claim 3 in which each of said .pushbutton means includes a plunger depressible .along its axis, said plungers of said pushbutton means individual to said first control element of said first device and said second cont-rol element of said second device positioned in substantial Ialignment with the respective ones of said control elements operated thereby.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4 in which there is an individual radial offset arm secured at one of its ends to each -of said plungers of said pushbutton means individual to said second control element 0f said first device and .said first control element of said second device, the other ends of said offset larms positioned in substantial alignment 'with the respective `ones of those control elements operated thereby.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 including keying means maintaining the pushbutton means individual to said second control element of said first device yand said first control element of said second device in predetermined Iangula'r relationship with respect to said cover means, and additional keying means maintaining said 5 6 arms in xed 'angular relationship Iwith respect to the References Cited by the Examiner plungers *ro which said' arms are mounted. UNITED STATES PATENTS 7. A .device as set forth 1n claim 6 1n Whlch said cover 3,1 801962 4/1965 D riso ou 200 168 means 111011111615 la fllS 'and la 'SC-COnd part mOllI'lted t0 Zavertnik @t al.

X respective rst and second hinge means disposed on 'D 3,193,607 7 1.96 5 Anderson 200 5 X opposite sides of said enclosure, said hinge means dening axes extending [generally in the direction of said ROBERT K- SCHAEFER Puma@ Examme" first line. I. R. SCOTT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, AN ENCLOSURE HAVING A COVER OPERABLE BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, FIRST AND A SECOND ELECTRICAL DEVICE EACH DISPOSED WITHIN SAID ENCLOSURE AND HAVING AT ONE END THEREOF A FIRST AND A SECOND MOVABLE CONTROL ELEMENT, SAID CONTROL ELEMENTS BEING SPACED FROM SAID COVER IN ITS SAID CLOSED POSITION, SAID ONE ENDS FACING ONE ANOTHER WITH SAID CONTROL ELEMENTS OF SAID FIRST DEVICE POSITIONED IN A FIRST LINE SPACED FROM AND EXTENDING GENERALLY IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS A SECOND LINE PASSING BETWEEN SAID CONTROL ELEMENTS OF SAID SECOND DEVICE, AN INDIVIDUAL DEPRESSIBLE PUSHBUTTON MEANS INDIVIDUAL TO EACH OF SAID CONTROL ELEMENTS, EACH OF SAID PUSH BUTTON MEANS BEING MOVABLE TO OPERATE ITS RESPECTIVE CONTROL ELEMENTS, SAID PUSHBOTTOM MEANS MOUNTED TO SAID COVER MEANS AND POSITIONED IN A THIRD LINE TRANSVERE TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND LINES, SAID FIRST, AND SECOND AND SAID THIRD LINES EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID COVER IN ITS CLOSED POSITION. 